AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“We’re best friends. You’re supposed to tell me everything, even if you don’t think I want to hear it.”
“Marlow, are you jealous that Dylan is spending his Saturday afternoons with a roomful of women who openly lust after him?” She gives me a teasing grin. “Don’t worry, he doesn’t pay them any mind. He only has eyes for Lola.”
“Oh my gosh, will you stop?” I throw my hands over my face in embarrassment. “He’s totally not my type.”
That’s a lie. He looks like Clark Kent—he’s everyone’s type.
Quinn shoots me a skeptical look, as if she has a direct line to my thoughts. “That’s bullshit. He’s a hot single dad, rich, and incredibly intelligent. He’s the complete package, and dating him would be like winning the lottery,” she says, like it’s an undeniable truth.
“If he’s so perfect, why don’t you date him?”
“While I adore Lola, I’m not looking for that kind of responsibility. Dylan needs to be with someone who loves that little girl just as much as he does,” Quinn says.
I let out a sigh of relief. The idea of Dylan with someone else makes me queasy, but I quickly shake it off.
“Are we going over to Brew Haven or what?” I ask, changing the subject. “Andi texted me on the way over and said she can’t get away from work, so it’s just you and me today.”
I put the paints and mineral spirits I bought in my floral satchel.
“That gives us plenty of time for you to give me all the dirty details on how this morning went.” Quinn has a mischievous glint in her eye.
I roll my eyes. “Seriously, will you stop?”
My phone rings in my pocket.
When I check to see who it is, I don’t recognize the number, but I need to answer in case it has to do with Lola.
“Hey, I have to get this,” I tell Quinn.
“No problem.” She picks up the box next to the ladder. “I’m going to put the rest of this inventory in the storage room, and then we can lock it up.”
I give her a thumbs up and answer the call.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Marlow, this is Johanna Stafford, Dylan’s mother. I’m so sorry to bother you, but is there any chance you could pick up Lola from school today?” I hear a car engine in the background. “Mike and I have dentist appointments this afternoon that I forgot about, and we won’t be finished in time to pick up Lola.”
“I’d be happy to,” I say, moving to the front of the store.
“Oh, that’s wonderful news. Thank you so much,” she exclaims. “I can stop at your place once I’m finished with my appointment.”
“Lola’s welcome to hang out with me and Waffles until Dylan gets home tonight. As long as that’s okay with you and Dylan, of course.”
“Are you sure?”
“Definitely.”
“Okay, Lola will be ecstatic. I’ll call the school to tell them you’re picking her up. Thanks again.”
“Anytime.”
I put my phone back in my pocket just as Quinn comes to the front of the store.
“Who was that?”
“Johanna Stafford. She asked if I could pick Lola up from school and watch her until Dylan gets home from work.”
Quinn smirks. “And so it begins.”
